The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has called out the worsening treatment of its members, accusing terminal operators and employers in the maritime sector of both pension breaches and inhumane working conditions.
The union said it had uncovered widespread irregularities in the remittance of pensions for dockworkers and seafarers nationwide.
Some ship owners and terminal operators, it alleged, have either defaulted or entirely stopped transferring workers’ contributions to their Pension Scheme Accounts (PSA), in clear violation of labour laws.
Read also: Eno flags off construction of maritime infrastructure project
Francis Bunu, the union’s president, warned that MWUN would have no choice but to clamp down on companies failing to meet their statutory obligations.
In an official statement on Monday, he said that the Union would call out and sanction the defaulting concessionaires and shipping companies if the situation persists.
“It is unlawful to deny workers their pension rights either by crook or by hook,” Bunu said, adding that the Union is prepared to bring erring employers to book and, if necessary, shut down their operations until compliance is achieved.
In a related development, MWUN also raised concerns over the deplorable welfare of seafarers onboard vessels operated by Ship & Shore Services Ltd, including the tanker vessel MT Bawarza and two tugboats, Battle Axe and MT Spain.
Read also: Ship management key to maritime business recovery – Yvonne Ezekiel
The Union, accused the company of exposing its members to unhygienic conditions, unsafe health facilities, and heightened risks of infections, describing the living conditions as “an outright disregard” for internationally recognised safety and welfare standards.
“Every seafarer has the right to a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety, health, and humane living standards,” Bunu said in an official statement. He noted that Ship & Shore Services Ltd had failed in its duty of care, compromising the health, safety, and efficiency of maritime workers onboard its vessels.
Maritime workers warned that unless the poor conditions and pension breaches are addressed swiftly, it would not hesitate to escalate its actions to protect the rights and dignity of its members across the country’s maritime sector.
